Dennis Fisher

“People are more important than things.”

Dennis Glendon Fisher 1937-2026

Dennis led a life filled with innumerable degrees, titles, and professional accolades, but his most significant accomplishment is, in fact, none of those things. His greatest and most impactful act was how he uniquely enriched the lives of those around him—not only his family, but quite simply, anyone he encountered. He and his wife, Glenna of 68 years, raised four children and played a significant role in the lives of their 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was once described as ‘believing anything worth doing is worth doing to excess,’ and this is truly how he lived his life!

Dennis was the only child of Glendon and Marion Fisher, who pastored a small church in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Dennis’ love for music developed in fifth grade when he began playing the trumpet, skills which matured throughout the remainder of his life. In high school, he built his own car, a prized 1932 Ford, while remaining at the top of his class, graduating as valedictorian. He later met the love of his life in Southern California as a freshman at Pasadena College. He and Glenna Pound married 15 months later and moved to Minnesota, where he earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering, and Glenna remained home with their children. Although his professional responsibilities were demanding, his hat quickly changed from scientist to super dad every evening when he pulled his faithful Ford into the driveway, and his four adoring children ran out the door, shouting, “Daddy’s home!”

In 1966, Dennis began his science career at RCA Labs in New Jersey. Then in 1977, ITT Laboratories moved the Fisher Family south, to Roanoke, Virginia, where they lived for the following 44 years. There, he took over the production of night-vision technology for the U.S military and later developed a new process for manufacturing gallium arsenide semiconductors. These projects led Dennis to the top of his field and afforded him the honor of building ITT’s Gallium Arsenide Technology Center. In 1989, he retired from ITT and began working as a research liaison between graduate students at Virginia Tech University, University of Virginia, and Carilion Health Care. Soon after, he accepted a position leading the launch and development of the Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI). He held the title of President and CEO of CBI for seven years and was responsible for the placement and further development of new medical facilities, which connected valuable research with medical care, among other things. All while being “retired.”

Although his career was filled with many significant events and uncountable accomplishments, he will be most remembered for his loving family, beautiful trumpet music, eclectic art collection, personal (and expansive) antique tool museum, and the arsenal of photographs he accumulated over decades. But above all else, Dennis Fisher will be remembered for his ability to make people feel seen, accepted, and loved without condition—even after a brief encounter, you most assuredly would leave with a smile.

Dennis invested in people. Whether family, neighbors, colleagues, or those he met by chance. People mattered. Even at the end of his life, he chose intentionality, often questioning his grandchildren about ideas and the progression of their lives. Because of that, his life will be mirrored for generations to come in the way his children and grandchildren live, love, and give back to their communities. From Nursing Director, to Professor, Engineer, Equestrian Coordinator, Teacher, Urban Planner, Midwife, L&D Nurse, Tech Support, Hospitality, Massage Therapist, Marketing Director, Non-Profit Program Director, Wilderness Guide, Surgeon, Wedding Planner, ED Nurse, Chief of Staff, Homeschool Mom, Musician, Sales rep, to Artist.

Known in many circles as ‘the Tool Doctor’, he had an unquenchable curiosity for almost everything; he was often seen with a camera in hand, documenting the world from his perspective. But, being behind the lens never stopped him from putting the camera down and learning about someone, or something that piqued his interest. Over the years, he and his lovely wife, Glenna, traveled the world taking pictures, learning to appreciate cultural diversity, and enjoying shared interests in music, art, and photography; always enhancing the lives of the people they encountered along the way.

People mattered most to Dennis, and it shows in the legacy he’s left behind, because at the end of the day, for Dennis Fisher, people are always more important than things.

Dennis is survived by his wife Glenna and his children Lauri Bach (Marcus),Valerie MacPhail (Paul), Cindy Bland (Jeff) and Gary Fisher (Alice), fifteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Celebration of Life Service details:

First Presbyterian Church

Sunday April 26th at 2:00 PM

393 Main Street, Spartanburg, SC